Germany is one of the leading shipbuilding nations in Europe, contributing four to five percent of total world production, corresponding to a value of EUR5 billion (US$6.29 billion).
German shipbuilding policy was well summarised in the document Intiative Leadership 2015, which was taken on board on a national level. Following this document, a course was undertaken to increase the quality of shipbuilding, to lengthen the exploitation period of ships, to ensure that 60 percent of ships built continue to be exported, to develop new technologies and to seek new energy solutions, among other measures.
Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft
Howaldtswerke-Deutsche Werft (often abbreviated to HDW) is a German shipbuilding company, headquartered in Kiel. In 2009 it was the largest shipyard in Germany and has more than 2,400 employees. It has been part of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems owned by ThyssenKrupp, since 2005.
Along the banks of the river Weser sits the Abeking & Rasmussen shipyard, founded in 1907. Over the decades, it has evolved into a state-of-the-art shipbuilding complex, currently consisting of five halls for the construction of ships of lengths up to 80 metres, modern office buildings, an inner harbour and a syncrolift.
The shipyard has been developing and building ships for navies, coastguards, the public sector, ship operators and private customers since 1907. In addition to sailing and motoryachts, current products include minesweepers and hunters, patrol boats and specialised ships such as research and supply ships for the offshore industry.
On October 8, 2009, a new order for 25-metre, SWATH@A&R vessel was signed by the Estonian Maritime Administration. German shipyard Abeking & Rasmussen contracted to deliver a Hydrographic Survey Vessel according to the procurement procedure named Enhancing Maritime Safety on Estonian Waterways, financed by the European Union, in 2012.
The decision to use SWATH technology was based on the good operational experience of the German pilots. They have worked continuosuly for more than ten years in the German Bight – under all weather conditions. This new 25-metre vessel was designed in close collaboration with the Estonian authorities.
Including this order, Abeking & Rasmussen has now delivered or been contracted to deliver a total of 21 SWATH vessels for customers worldwide, proving the yard's leadership in this sophisticated technology. The 25-metre vessels are the most successful SWATH vessels in the world.
Abeking & Rasmussen has recently secured an order for five 25-metre SWATH@A&R Patrol Boats. The vessels for the Latvian Navy are to be designed by A&R and constructed and delivered in co-operation with Riga Shipyard.
The SWATH concept exhibits extraordinary seaworthiness. Up to eight crew can stay for one week at sea, even under adverse weather conditions, to fulfil the main tasks of the new vessels: patrol and surveillance of territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone as well as participation in international assignments. Since the fendering of the pilot boats will be retained, the 25-metre SWATH@A&R Patrol Boats will be ideal for all types of boarding operations.
The new vessels will feature a modular mission bay at the fore. By fitting appropriate mission payloads, such as a diving module or an MCM module, the capabilities of the vessels can be enhanced flexibly. Delivery of the first-of-class is scheduled for December 2010 from Abeking & Rasmussen shipyard in Lemwerder/ Germany.
On May 14, 2009 in Brussels, the Flemish Prime Minister Kris Peeters signed the contract for a new Pilotage System for the Belgian sea ports with financing achieved through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) under the auspices of the Dexia group. Abeking & Rasmussen are contracted to deliver three 25-metre SWATH@A&R Pilot Tenders and one 60-metre SWATH@A&R Pilot Station Ship in 2011 and 2012.
The first 25-metre SWATH@A&R Windpark Tender was christened in April 2010. The German company BARD Group placed the order for this specialized maintenance and supply vessel for its offshore windfarms in 2008. The 25-metre Windpark Tender was also built using SWATH@A&R-Technology by Abeking & Rasmussen.
The vessel will be permanently situated at the offshore windfarm where a team of service personnel will be readily available 24/7 on an accommodation platform. This delivery presents a new chapter in the SWATH@A&R track record, as it is already the eleventh vessel of the SWATH@A&R construction.
Knaack & Jahn
Knaack & Jahn (www.k-j.de) is a medium-sized shipbuilding company based in Hamburg with branch offices in Bremerhaven and Kiel. Knaack & Jahn shipbuilding is active in shipbuilding at all shipyards in Germany as well as abroad.
They have regular customers including shipyards, shipping companies and private customers, both in Germany and internationally.
The company's services include:
• Repair, conversion and spare parts for systems of any makers i.e. : SABROE, NOVENCO HI PRESS, YORK, ROM, STAL
• New constructions for all application areas of refrigeration, air-conditioning and ventilation systems technology
• Service for all systems and makers
• Custom-made constructions
• Quality standard DIN ISO 9001
• Models in accordance with Solas, Marpol, DIN and all classification agencies
• Consulting
• Environmental technology
Neptun Werft
Neptun Werft shipyard was founded in Rostock in 1850 and the first Neptun Werft vessel was launched in 1851. Through more than 150 years of the company's history, Neptun Werft has built more than 1,500 new ships and repaired thousands of vessels for owners worldwide. Since 1997 the company has been a part of the Meyer Neptun group, which also includes Meyer Werft in Papenburg.
The production range is centred on its maritime core-business and in 2000 the company concentrated its entire production at the present location in Warnemünde. In addition, river cruise vessels became part of their product portfolio.
In order to safeguard the high quality standards required in these market sectors, large halls were built in 2003 so that the vessels could be built under a roof. Then company's latest products are gas tanks for LPG-Ethylene-carriers.
Today the company has some 400 well-experienced, highly motivated employees and is ideally located with direct access to the open sea.
The latest river vessel, the 'A-ROSA Viva' left the assembly halls at Neptun Werft in October 2009. She is the eighth river cruiser for the A-ROSA Flussschiff, Germany. After a short docking time, the 'A-ROSA Viva' was to be hauled to the fitting quay for testing and final equipment installations.
The 'A-ROSA Viva' was due to join the A-ROSA fleet in early 2010 and cruise on the Rhine, Main, Danube and the Mosel. She is 135 metres in overall length, 11.4 metres wide and has a draught of 1.6 metres. With 99 cabins, each 14.5 square-metres, the 'A-ROSA Viva' has space for 202 passengers. Seventy of these cabins are also equipped with a French balcony. Together with a buffet restaurant, an attractive bar and lounge as well as with the spa and the large sun deck, a pleasant stay on board is guaranteed. There are 32 cabins available specifically for crew members. Final delivery of the 'A-ROSA Viva' to A-ROSA Flussschiff took place in February, 2010.
The twin cruiser Neptun Werft is building for Premicon is a completely new type of ship whose innovative concept offers outstanding comfort and luxury to passengers. The ship consists of two separate hulls which are firmly interconnected. The aft, 25-metre-long part of the hull accommodates the crew quarters and the engine, while the forward, 110-m etre-long part is for passengers only.
Thanks to its special design, the so-called three-star river cruise ship is highly flexible in service. It can be operated on the rivers Rhine, Main and Danube as well as on the lower part of the Moselle. The ship is able to pass via the Rhein- Main-Donau Kanal. Moreover, due to its innovative design, the vessel already fulfils the latest safety regulations.
The ship, which is 135 metres long and 11.4 metres wide can accommodate approximately 200 passengers and will be able to operate at a speed of same 22km/h.
Lindenau
Lindenau is one of Germany's most innovative and productive medium-sized shipyards and is ideally located in Kiel, at the northern entrance to the Kiel Canal
The shipyard develops, designs and constructs all kinds of ships up to 50,000DWT.
Newbuilding 'S 284 Green Coastal Tanker' from Lindenau is a double hull tanker with LPG plant, a deadweight of 1,785DWT, an oil capacity of 1,700m³, with twin 59m³ LPG tanks for the Seychelles. This tanker was delivered on October 2009.
The vessel has an overall length of 67.8 metres on a beam of 13.2 metres with a depth of 5.2 metres, a designed draught of 3.9 metres and a scantling draught of 4.2 metres. The vessel achieved a speed at sea trials of 11 knots at 80 percent MCR and has an endurance of 2,000 nautical miles.
It has accommodation for 13 in eight cabins (five single, two double, one quadruple berths).
The vessel has twin Volvo D16 MH main engines, each rated at 473kW at 1,500rpm, with twin 1:5,93 reduction gears driving twin controllable pitch propellers.
Lürssen
The Lürssen shipyard (www.lurssen.com) is a family business in its fourth generation. Over 135 years, more than 13,000 boats, ships and yachts have been built at the yard.
The shipyard is divided into three business areas. The first is the construction of naval vessels and specialist ships such as fast patrol boats, corvettes and support vessels.
The second area is the construction of luxury super yachts starting from 50 metres to over 150 metres.
The third field is called Lürssen Logistic and concentrates on all logistical parts of the group, such as repair and maintenance, yacht management, spare part documentation, crew training centre and training simulators.
Company founder Friedrich Lürssen's ambition – formulated in 1875 – to go down in history as a leading shipbuilder, can be considered as long since fulfilled.
This success story has seen the yard grow from a modest producer of small working and racing boats to a leading producer of luxury yachts and high-quality specialised ships. Technical and innovative competence have been continually extended and the challenges thrown down by the construction of the most diverse types of ships are always being taken up.
Little boats have made the Lürssen yard big – and world-famous. As a fourth-generation family business, it combines tradition and innovation. Its international clients include governments, industrialists and private individuals. As well as motor, racing and speed boats, Lürssen produces not only patrol boats, corvettes, frigates, minesweepers and specialised research ships and protection vessels, but also yachts for individual and demanding tastes.
The complete Lürssen group has approximately 1,300 employees.
In addition to building sheds, the shipyard has dry and floating docks up to 220 metres.
BALTEC
BALTEC has been well known for many years for its fast catamarans constructed from modern composite materials, approved for world wide voyages.
BALTEC has had long expierience with constructing ships and boats and also offers planning and engineering for individual shipbuilding projects.
In just six months, from January 2009 to July 2009, the team at the Baltec Shipyard completed the construction and building of the new designed double ender passenger ferry for operation in the Port of Copenhagen. The passenger ferry is 22.90-metres long and 6.8-metres wide and specially designed for quick operation for 64 to 100 passengers, as well as bicycles and wheelchairs. Built from lightweight composite materials, the vessel has a significant fuel saving of approximately 50 percent compared to a similar vessels in Aluminium as well as minimum maintenance costs.
Krasimir Krastanov
